ROSEMARY SALES TRAUMA TO TRIUMPH
Rosemary Sales truly is a force of nature. Her ‘energy’ is instantly apparent. Driven by an incredibly dark childhood, she now lives her life with resilience, determination and unwavering self-belief. To share and bring that out in other women is her life’s work. In celebration of this month’s International Women’s Day, buckle up for a glimpse into her empowering story.
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“My name is Rosemary, but some call me Rose. I often say I was a rose, and I grew into a rosemary. Both are strong. Both survive. But rosemary thrives in the toughest conditions, and that feels important to who I am now.”
Rose’s childhood was one of abuse, imprisonment and control in almost every way… and nobody seemed to notice. “It was flight or fight, from a very young age, and most days, it was both. But, I learned early how to survive, how to be alert, resilient and strong, I learned how stay alive”.
THE GREAT ESCAPE Just before sixteen, she found the strength to run away. Now Rose was in control and boy, was she making up for lost time. “Survival became my superpower, instinct turned into purpose. I took what could have broken me and used it to build a life rooted in strength, compassion, courage and community.”
After the legal convictions of her abusers, Rose was able to begin rebuilding her life and focus on creating a positive future, drawing strength from the experiences that had shaped her. At 20 she met her future husband, Simon, it was an instant connection. In eighteen years they have ‘been married’ three times; once formally and renewing their vows at 10 and 15 years. Such is the strength of their bond. “Even writing this, I have to pause and breathe, because what we have is a true love story. My knight in shining armour. I take our vows seriously. I value love, respect and deep connection. We are not one person, we are two and together we
grow, learn, challenge one another, and stand side by side. We have fought for each other, with each other, and through life together. That, to me, is the definition of love. Together, we’ve raised two incredible children. I won’t say much more, they’d be mortified, but they are the heart of my world and the reason I am who I am today. I could talk about my family all day. I know how lucky I am.”
NATURE AND NURTURE Retrieving a lost education, “I couldn’t even spell my name until I was 12”, Rose has pursued a life of constant learning, both with formal qualifications and experiences. We’re not talking academic degrees, but in pursuits and skills that enrich and, importantly, which she can share. Nature is her go-to. Being in it and working with it were tremendously restorative and, through her Wye Knot Community business, she has developed her own intergenerational workshops, teaching Forest School and basic survival skills in SEND schools, and running a variety of community projects from newborn babies to 104 year olds. She has led women’s wilderness camps and adventures, including in Sweden, guiding participants through river exploration, nature immersion, and outdoor challenges that build confidence, encourage reflection and nurture belonging. All things that Rose herself still has occasional battles with.
“I found it so hard to fit into a community, so making my own helped me and others like me. People have reminded me that we are not meant to do life alone, that strength doesn’t always roar,
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LOCAL PEOPLE ROSEMARY SALES
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